Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page!

"A creature whose original humanity has been twisted into something unnatural," she clarified. "Whose soul has been drawn back from the land of the dead to inhabit a body created from the bones of its former self. ~pg. 119

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Zakiya from Butterfly Feet Walking on Lifehosts this meme. In this meme you post your status of the books your reading this week, books you finished this week, books you're going to read next, and books you plan on buying this week. You can also post what reviews and memes you participated in for the week. If your interested in participating in this meme, check out Zakiya's blog for all the info and the linky to sign up.

How about you? What is your status? If you don't have a blog you can post your status in my comment section or if you do have a blog leave me a link to where you have posted yours so I can check it out...:D

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A.P. Fuchs writes and publishes fulltime from Winnipeg, MB, and is most well known for his superhero series, The Axiom-man™ Saga. He spends most of his time writing about zombies and publishing books about them. His shoot ‘em zombie novel, Blood of the Dead, is about just that and, obviously, goes without saying but he’s saying it anyway.

Fuchs also writes non-fiction, Twitters a lot and writes in his blog–that’s here–5 to 6 days a week, sometimes more than once a day.

He’s also the owner and sole-proprietor of Coscom Entertainment, a publishing firm specializing in superhero and monster fiction.

Oh . . . as a few side things, he digs cooking, watching TV, making compost and following the exploits of Superman, Batgirl, Red Robin and Batman and Robin on a monthly basis.

He also has a few secrets of earth-shattering proportions, but he’s not telling them now nor ever, and plans on taking them to his grave.

A.P. Fuchs can be contacted at coscomentertainment at gmail dot com

INTERVIEW

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your paranormal romance novella series, Blood of my World?

I’m a writer/publisher/artist living in Canada who’s been active publishing since 2003, though I’ve been drawing since high school and writing seriously since 2000. Aside from publishing 20-plus works of my own (among the most recent being the Blood of my World series, Possession of the Dead, Zombie Fight Night and Magic Man Plus 15 Tales of Terror), I also run the monster and superhero publishing company Coscom Entertainment, as well as its Christian Romance imprint, Torn Veil books.

Blood of my World grew out of my desire to see if I could write a paranormal romance. I’ve dabbled in writing love stories in the past under the name Peter Fox (April, My Angel and Me), but those were not supernatural or paranormal in any way. But more specifically, I wanted to write a love story that also ensured the featured monster—in this case, a vampire—was truly that: a monster, one that didn’t stray from its original roots of bloodlust, carnage, terror. And, if indeed I could pull that off, then try and answer the question if a human could love a monster, what sorts of problems that would cause both internally and externally, how the logistics of that would work, those sorts of things.

Right now there are three books in the Blood of my World novella series: Discovery of Death, Memories of Death, and Life of Death. They follow a couple—Rose and Zach—who were high school sweethearts. However, once Zach goes missing for three long months, Rose has to try and deal with his disappearance along with the newfound knowledge she comes from a long line of vampire slayers. Likewise, we learn where Zach has been all this time: becoming a vampire, and finding out that his true family are of the undead and those that raised him were under their employ until he was old enough to be turned.

Once Rose’s and Zach’s paths cross again, love blossoms once more, but so does the test as to where their loyalties lie. Is love enough? Can you turn from your past? Truly turn?

Lots of excitement, tender romance and even poetry in this series, something fans of heartstring-tugging love stories will truly enjoy.

If you could ask yourself any interview question, what would you ask, and how would you answer it?

When you were a kid, did you see yourself as writing and/or creating for a living?

No. When I was a kid and I thought of my future self doing a job of some kind, I did get mental images working from home—then my parents’ house—but as to what specifically, it was more just me sitting at a desk signing papers. I guess I got the sitting a desk part right, but the only papers I sign are at booksignings and con appearances.

And if I wasn’t writing now, I’d be back doing blue-collar work, which, it seems, is the only thing I’m qualified for outside of working at a call centre. I’ve done both in the past while trying to get my career off the ground. I really have a respect for anyone who goes out there and gives it their best shot whether they like their job or not. Attitude really is everything when it comes to work, especially if whatever you’re doing is an “in the meantime” thing while you work towards something else.

Who was the hardest character to write in Blood of my World?

Probably Rain, Zach’s vampire. Every other character pretty much wrote themselves, but Rain was someone I had to consciously ensure was there and contributing to the story since my original plans for him changed during the writing process. I tend to write by the seat of my pants so 9 times out of 10, the story tells me who does what, where things are going, and usually chucks my original plans for a tale out the window. That said, sometimes certain characters take center stage easier than others so I have to make sure all the supporting cast gets their fair share of screentime.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No. My original plan a long time ago—back in high school—was to draw comics for a living. I took a year off after high school then after that took a course in 2D animation for 10 months. The idea was if I could learn to draw things in motion, I could surely draw them standing still. Of course, animation and comics are two different disciplines, but there are parallels that help with the other. Unfortunately, the school stopped teaching us the promised curriculum about 4 months in and I—and others—were pretty upset, and despite all out protests and questions, etc., we basically wasted the next 6 months of our lives. I grew pretty bitter toward the art industry and so ended up writing stories as a creative outlet, namely comic scripts. I then started to do a bunch of short stories in serial format, but as one thing led to another and the scope of the story grew, I ended up writing the prologue to my first novel, A Stranger Dead.

Things just kind of took off from there and writing became a major obsession of mine.

What is coming up next for you?

As of this writing, I’m about to draw page 16 of Axiom-man No. 1, a comic based on the book of the same name, albeit with a new story. Axiom-man was a character I made up over a decade ago, but only recently brought to market in 2006. So far, he’s got six titles out there: four books, one short story and one comic—Axiom-man, First Night Out, Doorway of Darkness, The Dead Land, Black Water, and Of Magic and Men. Think of him as a cross between Superman, Batman and Spider-Man.

What is the most interesting comment you have received so far concerning Blood of My World?

The most encouraging was one book blogger insisting I write more books in the series. She said she absolutely loved the first three. I thought that was pretty cool. Made my day.

The most interesting? Someone I know asking who the female model on the books’ covers was. Haha.

What is your favorite paranormal themed movie?

1408, probably. Very creepy. Very atmospheric, and you can’t go wrong with John Cusack.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

If indeed you are serious about writing, aside from the rule about how to learn your craft—write a lot and read a lot—the first thing you need to do when it comes time to thinking about publication is to decide what your goals are in this business. A lot of writers rush to self-publish or send off queries or whatnot without really understanding the motive behind the path they take. Do you want to write fulltime? Part time? Just a hobby thing? Each of those answers require different roads to get there.

I would strongly suggest—even demand—you research the industry, not buy into any online hype about which method of publication is best, and—based on your goal—pursue the avenue that bests fits that.

Usually, hobby writing equals you’d self-publish.

Part time is usually small press to somewhere in the midlist.

Fulltime is usually sending out queries, getting an agent, and hoping you’ll landing enough of a deal to cover your expenses for a year or more.

Tell us three things that we don’t know about you?

1.) I can say the alphabet as one word

2.) Growing up I had recurring nightmares about “porkyhymers.” (Made-up monster; basically people who look normal except they have noses like Gonzo and they want to kill or hurt you.)

3.) I have a real problem with the cliques that form in writers’ circles. I can only wonder what a reader must think when he/she stumbles upon a writer they read acting a certain way online or posting negativity about someone else, etc. You don’t see guys like Stephen King or Terry Goodkind doing that. Why should you?

When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a big comic book fan, so I’m usually reading comics and graphic novels, watching superhero cartoons/movies, and just chilling out. I also like to cook and have been doing it seriously for about a year and a half.

BLOOD OF MY WORLD: Includes Discovery of Death; Memories of Death; Life of Death

Zach and Rose had fallen in love during their sophomore year, their worlds completely changed and utterly belonging to each other's. It was the first time either had fallen in love, deeply, purely. Aiming for a future together, plans were interrupted when Zach went missing for three long months, leaving Rose distraught, heartbroken and depressed. Zach awakens in the dark of a coffin, his memory erased, his life and feelings for Rose forgotten. A strange group of people who identify themselves as his family reveal he has become a vampire, one of the undead, and is now a being with incredible power and a thirst for blood. However, during Zach's absence, Rose learns of her own secret heritage: she comes from a long line of vampire slayers, hellbent on eradicating the unholy threat of the undead from the face of the Earth. Now, not only does she need to try and get over the young man she loves, she must also come to terms with her new life and what that means for her future. It is only when her path accidentally crosses with Zach's does lost love begin to surface again.

Now submerged in the world of vampire slaying, Rose must come to terms with what that means for her relationship with Zach and if it's even possible for the two of them to be together. Meanwhile, every moment spent with Rose helps bridge the gaps in Zach's memory, reminding him how much they meant to each other in their former life. Rose's father, Marcus, is now even more dedicated to purging the Earth of the undead, so much so he's willing to kill the only boy Rose had ever loved to help make the world a safer place for her. Likewise, a plot is in play to infiltrate the Slayer Order, even at the expense of a loved one. The countdown begins and Zach and Rose must come to a decision as to where their loyalties lie, or if they're going to put each other above all else and face the consequences together.

Now disconnected from their families, Zach and Rose try and make it on their own away from the war between vampire and slayer. But word has been spread to the undead that Zach needs to return to his family otherwise his mother will only make matters worse for him. Trying to survive together isn't all it is hoped to be and Zach and Rose must decide if a vampire and human truly can remain together, or if it's a lost cause and they should accept their fate. Is love enough? Before the two can find out, the vampire's family comes for Zach and Rose, and the two are swept into a nightmare where there will be only one survivor.

GIVEAWAY
One PDF version Discovery of Death, Memories of Death and Life of Death to one winner
(complete rules HERE)

This contest is open internationally

You do not have to be a follower but it is much appreciate

Please complete the form below - comments are nice but they will not count.

The contest will end on June 8, 2011 at 11:59PM CT; 1 winner will be selected and contacted thereafter.

Once the winner is contacted, they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen (make sure to check your spam folder!).